South Central PA News

The Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee has given its unanimous approval to a set of five legislative proposals aimed at aiding fire companies and first responders, as announced by Senator Doug Mastriano, who serves as the committee chairman.

Senator Mastriano expressed the urgency of addressing the ongoing challenges faced by fire companies, such as staffing shortages and the financial demands of acquiring expensive equipment. "As fire companies continue to struggle with manpower issues and finding ways to pay for multi-million-dollar ladder trucks, it is imperative that we find ways to assist," Mastriano stated. "These five bills are aimed at doing just that."

One of the proposed measures, Senate Bill 90, seeks to modify the Firefighter I certification process by allowing applicants the option to be tested after completing each training module. This change, according to Mastriano, would uphold the rigorous standards of certification while making the process more accessible.

Senate Bill 91, also introduced by Mastriano, focuses on ensuring that Pennsylvania residents who work as first responders in neighboring states are eligible for the Pennsylvania line of duty death benefit. Mastriano explained, "Just because they work outside the state doesn’t mean Pennsylvania shouldn’t take care of their own when it comes to a line of duty death."

Mastriano is also behind Senate Bill 138, which would allow volunteer HazMat team members to qualify for a tax credit, provided their municipality permits it. Mastriano underscored the critical role of HazMat providers, citing recent incidents like the Ohio/Pennsylvania border train derailment and a chemical factory fire in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Senate Bill 457 proposes allowing fire and EMS companies to access increased, long-term loans under the state's Fire and EMS Loan Program. "Fire apparatus and equipment costs have risen dramatically over the past several years," Mastriano noted, indicating that higher loan thresholds could aid companies in obtaining necessary equipment.

Additionally, Senate Bill 466 would authorize the state fire commissioner to recognize on-the-job fire suppression training as part of Firefighter I certification requirements. An amendment to this bill would extend deadlines for final reports under the Fire and EMS Grant Program. "It is essential that we work with our volunteer fire and EMS companies to the greatest extent possible," Mastriano emphasized.

These bills now await further Senate deliberation.